Thursday, November 30, 2017

November was a busy month as the NHL hosted several Law
Enforcement Appreciation Nights in honor of the National Law Enforcement
Officers Memorial Fund. On November 17 the Columbus Blue Jackets hosted their
annual First Responders/Law Enforcement Night which was a huge success.

A sold-out crowd watched the Blue Jackets beat the visiting New
York Rangers with a final score of 2-0.

The Columbus (OH) Division of Police Mounted, Motorcycle &
Freeway Units were on hand, as well as the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the
Columbus Division of Fire, to greet arriving fans.

The Columbus Division of Police Motorcycle and Freeway Units
provided a VIP escort to the family of Kirkersville (OH) Police Chief Eric
DiSario from their home to the game. They were hosted by the Blue Jackets at
a pregame experience on the ice, and after the game they were invited in
the Blue Jackets locker room by player Cam Atkinson.

Several families of first responders were able to greet players as
they entered the ice and children of local law enforcement officers were
able to ride the Zamboni throughout the evening.

During the first intermission the Columbus Division of Police Chief
Kim Jacobs’ patrol cruiser was driven around the ice by CPD Officer of the
Month Anthony L. Johnson.

Interactive stations were located throughout the arena for the
fans to visit, along with K9 demonstrations by Columbus Airport Police Officer
David Knepper and his K9 partner.

The Franklin County (OH) Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad brought their
robot to explain how they use their special equipment.

Special thanks to the Columbus Blue Jackets organization,
especially Malinda Smith, Dani Knell and Cam Atkinson. Our thanks to the Ohio
Association of Chiefs of Police, Columbus Police Department, Ohio State
Highway Patrol and the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police for their continued
support of this great event.

Monday, August 14, 2017

The Cleveland Indians hosted their annual Law Enforcement Night on August 5 against the New York Yankees. It was an exciting night supporting and honoring law enforcement despite the Indians coming up short in a 2-1 loss before a sold-out crowd at Progressive Field.

Prior to the game, Columbus (OH) Police Department Commander Robert Meader threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Commander Meader is a native of Cleveland and as a teenager worked in the concessions department with the Indians. His brother-in-law was a Columbus police officer who was killed in the line of duty. During the pre-game ceremony Ohio State Highway Patrol Sergeant Michael Maughmer performed the national anthem as the Wellington (OH) Police Department Honor Guard presented the colors. Fans were also treated to a special video on the National Law Enforcement Museum’s Stand With Honor program www.StandWithHonor.us.

A special thanks to the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police, the Cleveland Indians and the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police for assisting in this annual event.

Milwaukee Brewers

On August 11 in Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Brewers hosted their annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Night. This is the seventh year the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund has teamed up with the Brewers. More than 2,000 law enforcement officers from local, state and federal agencies, along with their families and friends, came out for the event. Brewer fans were treated to a special pre-game ceremony honoring Wisconsin’s finest, including a helicopter flyover performed by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Wisconsin Honor Guard Association on the field presenting the colors, as well as the Memorial Fund flag.

A special thanks to the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association, Wisconsin Chapter of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, Wisconsin State Troopers Association, Milwaukee Police Association, Maggie Aliota and the Milwaukee Brewers Foundation for sponsoring the special challenge coins that were given away that night.

If you missed these events, check out www.LawMemorial.org/Sports for the latest law enforcement events happening across the country.

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

On Wednesday, May 17, the
2016 World Series Champions Chicago Cubs honored area law enforcement during their annual Law
Enforcement Night at Wrigley Field. More than 1,550 law enforcement officers,
friends, families and supporters came out to watch the Cubs take on the
Cincinnati Reds. The Cubs won with a final score of 7-5. Everyone
that bought this special offer received a Chicago Cubs Beanie Cap. Not only was
it Law Enforcement Night at Wrigley, but it was also National Police
Week. The Chicago Cubs posted a special marquee message honoring law
enforcement. During the pre-game ceremonies at Wrigley Field, the Chicago
Police Department Honor Guard presented the colors.

Our thanks to Samuel
Schlechter and the Chicago Cubs Groups Sales Team, along with James Reynolds and
the Security Team, for their assistance in making this a great event. For other
Major League Baseball Law Enforcement Night events, visit: www.LawMemorial.org/Sports.

Thursday, May 4, 2017

Monday, May 1, was a great night in Red Sox Nation as the Boston Red Sox honored Massachusetts-area law enforcement departments and officers, as well as the surrounding New England area, during the 6th annual Law Enforcement Night at Fenway Park.

The evening’s recognition and remembrance of law enforcement started off with Pauline Carter-Wells of the Cambridge (MA) Police Department singing the national anthem as the Boston University (MA) Police Department Honor Guard presented the colors. National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund Director of Law Enforcement Relations Matt Palardy threw out the ceremonial first pitch, and was joined by Memorial Fund Board Vice Chair Jon Adler, the New England COPS Chapter and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly.

Children of fallen officer families had the opportunity to say "Play Ball" at home plate before the game. Families of the officers who were killed in the line of duty in 2016, and who will be remembered and honored during the 2017 National Police Week, were also honored on field before the game.

This special night also gave Memorial Fund the opportunity to promote the Stand With Honor (www.StandWithHonor.us) program to a diverse group of law enforcement leaders and associations.

The Boston Red Sox ended up falling short to the Baltimore Orioles in an exciting game in a final score of 5-2.

We would like to thank the Carl Grider and the Boston Red Sox Group Sales Team, Boston Red Sox Security Team, Boston Police Department, New England COPS Chapter, New England Association Chiefs of Police and the Massachusetts Police Association for their support of this event. For the latest schedule of law enforcement events with Major League Baseball Teams visit www.LawMemorial.org/sports.

Friday, December 16, 2016

Braving temperatures in the teens, Memorial Fund President
and CEO Craig W. Floyd climbed down 65 feet into the construction site of the
National Law Enforcement Museum. Strapped to his back as he climbed down
several ladders on this December day, was a wooden box containing rubbings of
names of fallen officers from the Memorial across the street.

The rubbings were part of a project from National Police
Week in 2014. Visitors to the Memorial were asked to make extra rubbings of
their loved one’s names so they could be placed into a capsule and embedded
into the Museum underneath the area which will contain the Museum’s Hall of
Remembrance. Hundreds of rubbings were collected and they waited for the day
when they could be forever sealed into the foundation of the building designed
to tell their profession’s story. That day came on December 15, 2016.

Mr. Floyd carefully delivered the capsule to its final
resting place. He gently placed the wooden box into the ground, and shoveled in
the dirt on top. Concrete will soon be poured over the site as construction for
the Museum continues.

Monday, November 28, 2016

It was a great night on November 18 in downtown Columbus as the surrounding community and the State of Ohio poured into the Nationwide Arena for the annual Columbus Blue Jackets First Responders Night. Not only did this night honor Ohio First Responders, it also honored and recognized the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. More than $4,000 were raised for the first National Law Enforcement Museum.

The Blue Jackets hosted the New York Rangers and won in an exciting game with a final score of 4-2.

Prior to the start of
the game, the Blue Jackets observed a moment of remembrance for Columbus (OH) Police Officer Steve Smith and Hilliard (OH) Police Officer Sean Johnson as their families were recognized on the ice.

Mounted
police on horses welcomed fans outside Nationwide Arena while concourse
attractions included a K-9 unit, a bomb squad robot, a CPR training station and
a dress-up station where kids were able to try on police, firefighter and
bomb squad gear. In addition, fans were treated to pre-game and first
intermission performances by the Columbus Police & Fire Pipes & Drums,
a group of active-duty or retired Columbus police officers and
firefighters.

Columbus Division of
Police officer Alex Behnen and Gary Leister were given a personalized jersey from
the team in a ceremony at intermission. They were honored for discovering two
historical line of duty deaths that were not known or recognized
locally or in Washingon, DC, at the national memorial.

After the game Hilliard
and Columbus police officers and their families were invited down on the ice
for group photos. Blue Jackets' Cam Atkinson met the kids
and parents in the locker room.

Our thanks to Malinda Smyth, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Nationwide Arena for saluting First Responders
and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Special thanks
to the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police, Ohio Fraternal Order of Police,
City of Columbus Police Department and Bill Swank for their efforts in
assisting with this event.

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Dressed in the standard khaki cargo pants and green polo
shirts, the members of the 266th Session of the FBI National Academy
walked among walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial on
Wednesday night. As the sun started to set, they kneeled by the 20,789 names.
Some sat nearby in silence, others etched names they recognized onto paper.

The officers looked across E Street at the wide 30-foot hole
in the ground, part of the construction that will eventually become the
National Law Enforcement Museum. They talk about making a trip back to
Washington, DC, in mid-2018, when the Museum is slated to open.

The FBI’s Jeffery S. McCormick started the wreathlaying
ceremony with the introduction, welcoming the 266th Session to the
Memorial. The presentation of colors was provided by the Alexandria (VA) Police
Department.

Memorial Fund President and CEO Craig W. Floyd was happy to
have the members of the National Academy at the Memorial this week.

“Tonight you help us commemorate a very special milestone in
law enforcement history,” he said. “It was 25 years ago this past Saturday, on
October 15, 1991, when we dedicated this majestic monument that was built to
honor the men and women in law enforcement. To honor our service, remember
those who have sacrificed their lives in the performance of duty.”

Mr. Floyd took a few minutes to share the history of the
Memorial, how it was built and the special significance of Judiciary Square,
where the Memorial, and soon the Museum, stands.

“It was in 1972 when a detective from Suffolk County in New
York, by the name of Donald Guilford, had the vision to build a national law
enforcement officers memorial. And he took that to his local Congressman, and
they introduced a bill. Language for some time, but ultimately they went to a
leader among law enforcement. His name was Mario Biaggi, a Congressman from New
York City. He had served for 23 years with the New York City Police Department.
A legendary figure, he was wounded 10 times in the line of duty, the most decorated
officer in New York City history when he retired in 1965. He served 20 years in
Congress, and he always said one of his proudest, if not the proudest, achievement he ever had was the establishment of the
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

“He introduced the legislation, became law in 1984. And
after seven years of dedicated effort, we opened this monument to the public.
It wasn’t easy. It took us two years to pick the specific site it should be
built on. Congress didn’t legislate that. So we scoured the city, and we came
upon Judiciary Square, where we’re standing here tonight. They say that
President George Washington once stood in this very place. He decided that this
Judiciary Square would become the seat of our judicial branch of government, the
seat of criminal justice in America. It’s one of the three major spaces they
designed Washington around. We felt that this was the spot to honor the men and
women who enforce the laws of our nation, and keep the peace.

“So in 1991, when we dedicated this memorial, there were
12,561 names added to these Memorial walls. It was a Herculean task to identify
those fallen heroes. It’s never been done before. We were the first.”